In the news: An active sex life doubles the risk of heart attacks in older men

Older men who have an active sex life are twice as likely to have a heart attack, but for women over 60 a vigorous love life appears to have the opposite effect, a study suggests.

Men in their late 50s to mid-80s who had regular sex once a week or more had twice the risk of heart attack and stroke or other cardiovascular conditions over the next five years compared with those who didn't, the researchers found. And, to add insult to injury, the men who enjoyed sex and found it extremely pleasurable were even more likely to suffer heart conditions than those who were less satisfied.

The research by the Michigan State University, published in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, involved more than 2,200 people between the ages of 57 and 85. It said that older men could be at risk of over-exertion, when attempting to meet the demands of a sexual relationship, creating stress on the heart.

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Hui Liu, a sociologist who led the study said that older men may come off badly because they exhaust themselves more than younger men in an effort to reach an orgasm. She said that this would "create more stress on their cardiovascular system in order to achieve climax". She added:

"Strikingly, we find that having sex once a week or more puts older men at a risk for experiencing cardiovascular events that is almost two times greater than older men who are sexually inactive. Moreover, older men who found sex with their partner extremely pleasurable or satisfying had higher risk of cardiovascular events than men who did not feel so."

Researchers said that some of the risks may also have been caused by the use of Viagra and other sexual stimulants among older men. Liu said:

"Although scientific evidence is still rare, it is likely that such sexual medication or supplements have negative effects on older men's cardiovascular health.''

But for women, no such links were found. In fact, older women who enjoy an active sex life, with high levels of satisfaction, had lower blood pressure – protecting them against heart disease, than those who weren't sexually active. Researchers said that women may fare better than older men because of the beneficial effects of the female sex hormone released during orgasm, and the stress-busting effects of a close relationship.

Liu believes that men in all relationships, even bad ones, are more likely to receive support from their partners than women are. "Only women in good quality relationships may acquire such benefits from their partner," she said. She added:

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